AAA Lawn & Garden Shoots
News from the Green industry and tips you can use
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Thursday, February 13, 2020
Monday, July 2, 2018
ADDING CURB APPEAL TO YOUR HOUSE
For a simple way to ramp up your curb appeal, add pops of color, especially red, which is the number one color to jazz up your space
If you can't insert a cool red door colorfull shrubs or flowers are an inexpensive way to add pizzaz to a green
background of old foundation planting
Monday, March 13, 2017
REPAIR WINTER HEDGE DAMAGE
BEFORE |
BEFORE |
AFTER |
AFTER |
Its important to repair hedges as soon as possible after snow damage to prevent branch snapping
A proper evergreen fertilizer applied after repair will help your hedge to fill
in after a major topping
This hedge was severely compromised by the winter
snow as the owner was away on holidays and unable to brush snow off, We were able to repair it with only a
25% reduction in height
AFTER |
TO AVOID COSTLY HEDGE REPLACEMENT
Thursday, January 14, 2016
2015 BC Horticultural Show
I always try to check out all the industry trade shows to see what the newest and latest trends are in the green industry. Last years show
in Abbotsford delivered a couple of interesting tidbits
Artificial Turf has some serious issues.
Besides its high cost there are a lot of other concerns that should make homeowners think twice before replacing their lawn Personally
I've had a couple of my customers complain about staining and burned spots
A new idea combining composting and vertical gardening caught my attention This box would look great on your patio or deck. and would provide you with a show garden and a place to get rid of your green kitchen waste I met the inventor of this box and was totally impressed with his concept combining urban gardening and composting. In addition these boxes are constructed locally and the quality of the woodwork is superb. They can even use wood from fallen trees on your property in the construction
Finally the highlight of the show. What this has to do with gardening I don't know. But this 56 Pontiac threw me down memory lane. This was the first car I ever owned . I paid $ 20
yes twenty bucks for a less pristine model this car when I was 15 years old
I
in Abbotsford delivered a couple of interesting tidbits
Artificial Turf has some serious issues.
Besides its high cost there are a lot of other concerns that should make homeowners think twice before replacing their lawn Personally
I've had a couple of my customers complain about staining and burned spots
A new idea combining composting and vertical gardening caught my attention This box would look great on your patio or deck. and would provide you with a show garden and a place to get rid of your green kitchen waste I met the inventor of this box and was totally impressed with his concept combining urban gardening and composting. In addition these boxes are constructed locally and the quality of the woodwork is superb. They can even use wood from fallen trees on your property in the construction
Finally the highlight of the show. What this has to do with gardening I don't know. But this 56 Pontiac threw me down memory lane. This was the first car I ever owned . I paid $ 20
yes twenty bucks for a less pristine model this car when I was 15 years old
I
Sunday, March 15, 2015
COMING TO A LAWN NEAR YOU ( YOU HOPE NOT )
EUROPEAN SCHAFER BEETLE IS ON THE MARCH . FIRST SPOTTED IN NEW WESTMINISTER IN 2001 THIS UNWELCOME EUROPEAN IMMIGRANT IS SLOWLY SPREADING ACROSS THE LOWWER MAINLAND LEAVING A TRAIL OF RUINED LAWNS IN ITS WAKE I NOTICED A PATH OF DESTRUCTION ALONG CAMBIE STREET ON MY WAY TO A TRADE SHOW IN VANCOUVER LAST MONTH . I'AM NOT TALKING A FEW BLOCKS. THIS WENT ON FOR MILE AFTER MILE, BOULEVARDS AND RESIDENTIAL LOTS ALIKE
YIKES!
ALONG WITH ITS COUSIN THE EUROPEAN CRANE FLY LARVA
AKA" LEATHERJACKET"
THESE GRUBS CAN TAKE OUT A LAWN IN A WEEK-END LEAVING THE CROWS PICKING THROUGH THE CHAFF
A WELL MAINTAINED HEALTHY LAWN IS YOUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST
THESE CRITTERS
.
IF YOU NOTICE GRUB DAMAGED LAWNS IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD
THE INTRODUCTION OF BENEFICIAL NEMETODES CAN HELP CONTROL THE POPULATION OF DESTRUCTIVE LARVA IN YOUR LAWN
I BELIEVE PRO-ACTIVE HOMEOWNERS CAN AVOID A COSTLY LAWN REPLACEMENT BY WORKING WITH LAWN CARE PROFESSIONALS
TO MAKE SURE THEIR LAWN IS WELL NOURISHED , AERATED, AND FREE OF EXCESSIVE THATCH
Saturday, February 7, 2015
OUTDOOR LIVING
When traveling through the wine
country in Washington State we
noticed a few wineries with wood burning pizza ovens. They were used for wine events and private entertaining. Great conversation pieces and amazing pizzas from the 800 degree temperatures produced
What a great alternative to the traditional outdoor barbecue which can be very pricey with the granite tops. Check out the fireplace in this one.I know I want one of these babies in my yard.
Ok maybe this is more my budget
country in Washington State we
noticed a few wineries with wood burning pizza ovens. They were used for wine events and private entertaining. Great conversation pieces and amazing pizzas from the 800 degree temperatures produced
What a great alternative to the traditional outdoor barbecue which can be very pricey with the granite tops. Check out the fireplace in this one.I know I want one of these babies in my yard.
Ok maybe this is more my budget
if there is any money left in the kitty
How about an outdoor sauna
"Read what the experts are saying:
Sauna Therapy for Detoxification and
Healing by Lawrence Wilson Infrared
sauna therapy is one of the least costly, safest and most powerful ways to
eliminate toxic metals, toxic chemicals and infections."
Pasted
from <http://www.healwithheat.com/>
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CEDAR
When choosing the right type of cedar tree to plant
in your yard the first consideration is...
Why am I planting this hedge and what are the
site conditions in the planting area to be hedged
how much sun is available and what are the soil
and drainage like.Are you planting for noise
reduction and privacy or purely esthetic reasons
A cedar hedge is a long term investment in your
yard and becomes a valuable landscape feature
when it matures. After deciding on the type of
cedar you want make sure they are properly
planted in well drained soil with bone meal.
The hedge should be watered with a soaker hose
the first summer untill the roots are established.
Thuja plicata (Wester Red Cedar) is a fast-growing conifer hedge.
It forms a dense evergreen hedge of any height and size if it is trimmed regularly.
Thuja foliage has a pleasant, apple aroma when crushed.
Can be cut back into old wood and will re-shoot.
In a cold winter the foliage turns a bronze colour.
Any free-draining soil in sun or partial shade.
Rate of growth: up to 75cm (2'6") per yea
From the Western Red Cedar family, the Excelsa
Cedar is a tall and wide growing cedar.
It can reach heights of over 30 feet in the long run
and can grow as wide as 10-15 feet. It is a moderate
to fast growing tree (2-3’ per year) that maintains a steady pyramid shape.It is a great tree (‘two story’ privacy tree) alternative to smaller, slower growing white cedars if a privacy hedge is desired in less time. It acts as a great windbreak and is deer resistant. It is suitable in urban, rural and semi-rural environments.The Excelsa Cedar has a rich, dark evergreen foliage that may turn slightly golden in
Winter do to the cold. It grows well in all soil types and prefers moist climates.The Excelsa Cedar is hearty in zones 5-8.Other Names: Thuja Plicata, Western Red Cedar, Aborvitae Excelsa
'Smaragd' is the ultimate low-maintenance hedging plant. Planted in a row, the top can be trimmed to the height required but the sides of the trees will never need trimming. Thuja 'Emerald' is evergreen and forms a neat screen of dense dark green foliage. It is very hardy and wind tolerant. It is not used very often in the UK as a screen but is commonly used in the USA where temperature extremes are much greater than here. Any free draining soil in sun or partial shade. Rate of growth: up to 45cm (18 inches) per year.
The emerald green arborvitae, also known as an eastern white cedar, is an
evergreen tree characterized by its dark green foliage. The cedar grows in just
about any soil they are planted in and grow well in areas that are subject to
high atmospheric moisture. They grow best in full sun.They are most commonly
used to create privacy screens and noise barriers due to their tendency to grow
thick/dense. Emerald Cedars are very low maintenance tree that require pruning
only once per year.At maturity the Emerald Cedar can reach heights above 20
feet growing at a typical rate of roughly one vertical foot and 4-6” of
horizontal width per year. They usually grow in a pyramid shape The emerald
Cedar is hearty in zones 3-7.Other Names: Smaragd, Emerald
green arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis ‘smaragd’.
PRO:
LOW MAINTENANCE
CON:
MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER VARIETALS
NOT AS DISEASE RESISTANT AS OTHER VARIETALS
The Pyramidalis cedar is a multi-stemmed columnar white cedar that grows
tall and lean to a maximum height of around 20 feet and a maximum horizontal
spread of 7-8’. It has a shallower green colour foliage than the Emerald cedar
and stays evergreen all year long. It prunes well and is a relatively low
maintenance cedar.
Like the Emerald, the Pyramidalis cedar prefers full sun and average levels of atmospheric moisture. It is not very picky in terms of soil type or pH level it grows in and is quite tolerant of urban pollution making it a great privacy cedar tree along busy streets.The Pyramidalis Cedar is hearty in zones 3-
PRO:
GROWS WELL ALONG DRIVEWAYS AND ROADS
LIGHTER GREEN COLORS SETS THEM APART FROM OTHER CEDARS
CAN MAKE AN INTERESTING SPECIMEN HEDGE
WHERE NOISE AND PRIVACY IS NOT AN ISSUE
CON:
REQUIRES MORE LIGHT THAN OTHER VARIETALS TO MAINTAIN EVEN FOILAGE
BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE STEMS IS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SNOW DAMAGE
in your yard the first consideration is...
Why am I planting this hedge and what are the
site conditions in the planting area to be hedged
how much sun is available and what are the soil
and drainage like.Are you planting for noise
reduction and privacy or purely esthetic reasons
A cedar hedge is a long term investment in your
yard and becomes a valuable landscape feature
when it matures. After deciding on the type of
cedar you want make sure they are properly
planted in well drained soil with bone meal.
The hedge should be watered with a soaker hose
the first summer untill the roots are established.
|
Thuja plicata (Wester Red Cedar) is a fast-growing conifer hedge.
It forms a dense evergreen hedge of any height and size if it is trimmed regularly.
Thuja foliage has a pleasant, apple aroma when crushed.
Can be cut back into old wood and will re-shoot.
In a cold winter the foliage turns a bronze colour.
Any free-draining soil in sun or partial shade.
Rate of growth: up to 75cm (2'6") per yea
Cedar is a tall and wide growing cedar.
It can reach heights of over 30 feet in the long run
and can grow as wide as 10-15 feet. It is a moderate
to fast growing tree (2-3’ per year) that maintains a steady pyramid shape.It is a great tree (‘two story’ privacy tree) alternative to smaller, slower growing white cedars if a privacy hedge is desired in less time. It acts as a great windbreak and is deer resistant. It is suitable in urban, rural and semi-rural environments.The Excelsa Cedar has a rich, dark evergreen foliage that may turn slightly golden in
Winter do to the cold. It grows well in all soil types and prefers moist climates.The Excelsa Cedar is hearty in zones 5-8.Other Names: Thuja Plicata, Western Red Cedar, Aborvitae Excelsa
PRO GROWS WELL IN
PARTIAL SHADE
FAST GROWING / GOOD FOR NOISE BARRIER AND WINDBREAK
DISEASE RESISTANT
CON:
REQUIRES
MORE TRIMMING
|
'Smaragd' is the ultimate low-maintenance hedging plant. Planted in a row, the top can be trimmed to the height required but the sides of the trees will never need trimming. Thuja 'Emerald' is evergreen and forms a neat screen of dense dark green foliage. It is very hardy and wind tolerant. It is not used very often in the UK as a screen but is commonly used in the USA where temperature extremes are much greater than here. Any free draining soil in sun or partial shade. Rate of growth: up to 45cm (18 inches) per year.
PRO:
LOW MAINTENANCE
CON:
MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER VARIETALS
NOT AS DISEASE RESISTANT AS OTHER VARIETALS
Like the Emerald, the Pyramidalis cedar prefers full sun and average levels of atmospheric moisture. It is not very picky in terms of soil type or pH level it grows in and is quite tolerant of urban pollution making it a great privacy cedar tree along busy streets.The Pyramidalis Cedar is hearty in zones 3-
PRO:
GROWS WELL ALONG DRIVEWAYS AND ROADS
LIGHTER GREEN COLORS SETS THEM APART FROM OTHER CEDARS
CAN MAKE AN INTERESTING SPECIMEN HEDGE
WHERE NOISE AND PRIVACY IS NOT AN ISSUE
CON:
REQUIRES MORE LIGHT THAN OTHER VARIETALS TO MAINTAIN EVEN FOILAGE
BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE STEMS IS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SNOW DAMAGE
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